Portable device-based shopping checkout

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides portable-device based store checkout. Specifically, a portable device is configured for store checkout. When the shopper obtains an item, he/she scans its barcode and captures its image using the portable device. The identity of the item as determined based on the barcode is compared with its appearance as determined based on the image. If the two are consistent with one another, the item is added to an inventory of items. The shopper can checkout by linking (e.g., porting) the portable device to a checkout station. The linking will cause the inventory of items to be made known to the checkout station, which will arrange payment using the portable device. Optionally, as an additional validation, the shopping receptacle can be weighed at the checkout station to make sure it reasonably meets an expected weight determined based on the inventory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related in some aspects to the commonly owned andco-pending application entitled “Smart Scanning System,” filed May 31,2007, and which is assigned and U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/756,391, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to portable device-basedshopping checkout. Specifically, the present invention allows a portabledevice such as a wireless device (e.g., a cellular telephone, personaldigital assistant, etc.) to be configured for shopping checkout

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shopping checkout (e.g., retail supermarket, etc.) is a process by whichmost everyone is familiar. Typical checkout involves a shoppernavigating about a store collecting items/items for purchase. Often theshopper will utilize a shopping receptacle such as a shopping cartand/or shopping basket. Upon completion of gathering the desired items,the shopper will proceed to a checkout station for checkout (e.g.,bagging and payment). In recent years, many stores have become equippedwith self-checkout stations whereby a shopper will scan and bag theitems his/herself, and then make payment via the self-checkout station.

A recent trend has been to allow the shopper to perform some of thesefunctions as he/she navigates about the store. Unfortunately, none ofthe existing approaches provides a way to prevent device (e.g., scannererror) and/or theft (e.g., switching barcodes, not scanning items pacedin the cart, etc.). Moreover, may of the existing approaches requireexpensive retrofitting of shopping receptacles, which themselves providean increased security risk. In view of the foregoing, there exists aneed for an approach that solves at least one of the deficiencies in theexisting art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention provides portable-device based storecheckout. Specifically, a portable device is configured for storecheckout. When the shopper obtains an item, he/she scans its barcode andcaptures its image using the portable device. The identity of the itemas determined based on the barcode is compared with its appearance asdetermined based on the image. If the two are consistent, the item isadded to an inventory of items. As an optional second check, anadditional image of the item can be captured using an image capturedevice (e.g., still image or video camera) positioned on a shoppingreceptacle in which the item is placed. This additional image can becompared with the image captured via the portable device. Regardless,the shopper can checkout by linking (e.g., porting) the portable deviceto a checkout station. The linking will cause the inventory of items tobe made known to the checkout station, which will arrange payment usingthe portable device. Optionally, as an additional validation, theshopping receptacle can be weighed at the checkout station to make sureit reasonably meets an expected weight determined based on theinventory.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for portabledevice-based shopping checkout, comprising: receiving a scan of abarcode of an item with a portable device that is configured forshopping checkout; receiving an image of the item captured with theportable device; and determining whether an identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with anappearance of the item as determined based on the image.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method forconfiguring a portable device for shopping checkout, comprising:registering the portable device for shopping checkout; providing aunique identifier to the portable device; and providing software forshopping checkout to the portable device.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a system for portabledevice-based shopping checkout, comprising: a module for receiving ascan of a barcode of an item with a portable device that is configuredfor shopping checkout; a module for receiving an image of the itemcaptured with the portable device; and a module for determining whetheran identity of the item as determined based on the scan of the barcodeis consistent with an appearance of the item as determined based on theimage.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a program productstored on a computer readable medium for portable device-based shoppingcheckout, the computer readable medium comprising program code forcausing a portable device to: receive a scan of a barcode of an itemwith the portable device, the portable device being configured forshopping checkout; receive an image of the item captured with theportable device; and determine whether an identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with anappearance of the item as determined based on the image.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a method for deployinga system for portable device-based shopping checkout, comprising:enabling a portable device to: receive a scan of a barcode of an itemwith the portable device, the portable device being configured forshopping checkout; receive an image of the item captured with theportable device; and determine whether an identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with anappearance of the item as determined based on the image.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a method forconfiguring a portable device for shopping checkout, comprising:providing a computer infrastructure being operable to: register theportable device for shopping checkout; provide a unique identifier tothe portable device; and provide software for shopping checkout to theportable device.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides acomputer-implemented business method for portable device-based shoppingcheckout, comprising: receiving a scan of a barcode of an item with aportable device that is configured for shopping checkout; receiving animage of the item captured with the portable device; and determiningwhether an identity of the item as determined based on the scan of thebarcode is consistent with an appearance of the item as determined basedon the image.

An eighth aspect of the present invention provides acomputer-implemented business method for configuring a portable devicefor shopping checkout, comprising: registering the portable device forshopping checkout; providing a unique identifier to the portable device;and providing software for shopping checkout to the portable device.

One or more of these aspects could also be implemented as computersoftware embodied in a propagated signal that comprises instructionswhich cause a portable device and/or computer system to carry out theirrespective steps and/or function.

In addition, one or more of these aspects could be implemented as a dataprocessing system that comprises: a memory medium having instructions: abus coupled to the memory medium; and a processor coupled to the busthat when executing the instructions causes the data processing systemto carry out their respective steps and/or functions.

Still yet, under each of these aspects, one or more of the followingadditional aspects could be incorporated: the portable device can belinked with a checkout station for checking out the inventory of items;payment for the inventory of items can be obtained using the portabledevice; a shopping receptacle in which the item is placed can be weighedto validate a purchase of the item; the shopping receptacle can beselected from a group consisting of a shopping cart and a shoppingbasket; an additional image of the item captured with an image capturedevice coupled to a shopping receptacle can be received; it can bedetermined whether the image of the item captured with the portabledevice is consistent with the additional image of the item captured bythe image capture device; the item can be added to an inventory of itemsif the identity of the item as determined based on the scan of thebarcode is consistent with the identity of the item as determined basedon the image, and the image of the item captured with the portabledevice is consistent with the additional image of the item captured bythe image capture device; the image capture device can be selected froma group consisting of a still image camera and a video camera; theportable device can be selected from a group consisting of a wirelessdevice and a wired device; the wireless device can be selected from agroup consisting of a cellular telephone and a personal digitalassistant; the barcode being can be scanned and the can be imagecaptured by an image capture device associated with the portable device;and/or the configuring of the portable device for shopping checkout caninclude: registering the portable device for shopping checkout,providing a unique identifier for the portable device, providingsoftware for shopping checkout to the portable device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts portable device-based shopping checkout according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts portable device-based shopping checkout according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a more specific computerized implementation according tothe present invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyschematic representations, not intended to portray specific parametersof the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typicalembodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered aslimiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numberingrepresents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For convenience, the Detailed Description of the Invention has thefollowing Sections:

I. General Description

-   -   A. Embodiment I    -   B. Embodiment II

II. Computerized Implementation

I. General Description

As used herein, the following terms have the associated meanings:

“Set”—a quantity of at least one.

“Portable Device”—any wireless device such as a cellular telephone,personal digital assistant, etc., or any wired device capable ofimplementing the teachings recited herein.

“Shopping Receptacle”—any container capable of holding items such as ashopping cart, a shopping basked, a shopping bag, etc.

“Image Capture Device”—means any type of camera or the like such as astill image camera, a video camera, etc.

As indicated above, the present invention provides portable-device basedstore checkout. Specifically, a portable device is configured for storecheckout. When the shopper obtains an item, he/she scans its barcode andcaptures its image using the portable device. The identity of the itemas determined based on the barcode is compared with its appearance asdetermined based on the image. If the two are consistent, the item isadded to an inventory of items. As an optional second check, anadditional image of the item can be captured using an image capturedevice (e.g., still image or video camera) positioned on a shoppingreceptacle in which the item is placed. This additional image can becompared with the image captured via the portable device forconsistency. Regardless, the shopper can checkout by linking (e.g.,porting) the portable device to a checkout station. The linking willcause the inventory of items to be made known to the checkout station,which will arrange payment using the portable device. Optionally, as anadditional validation, the shopping receptacle can be weighed at thecheckout station to make sure it reasonably meets an expected weightdetermined based on the inventory.

A. Embodiment I

Referring now to FIG. 1, portable device-based shopping checkoutaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.Specifically, under the present invention, a portable device 10 is firstconfigured for shopping checkout. In a typically embodiment,configuration will be fostered by a provider 22 and generally includes:registering the portable device for shopping checkout (e.g., providinguser/shopper contact information, pin number/password for using portabledevice 10 for shopping checkout, payment information and any pin numberand/or passwords, etc.); providing a unique identifier to the portabledevice; and providing software 24 for shopping checkout to the portabledevice. Software 24 includes a set of modules 26 that is configured to:receive and process a scan of a barcode of an item; receive and processa first image of the item determine an identity of the item based on thescan; determine an appearance of the item based on the first image; anddetermine whether the identity is consistent with the appearance. Set ofmodules 26 can also be configured to receive and process a second imageof the item (e.g., as captured by an image capture device 18 positionedon the shopping receptacle 16; and compare the first image with thesecond image. Still yet, set of modules 26 can be configured to linkwith a checkout station; and arrange payment for the item.

Once portable device 10 is configured for shopping checkout, it can beused during the gathering of items to develop an inventory of items tobe purchases. For example, when an item 12 is desired to be purchased,an image capture device 11 associated therewith will scan a barcode 14of item, and capture an image of item 12. The scan and image will bereceived by set of modules 24 which will determine an identity of item12 using barcode 14 (e.g., using known methods of accessing a table orlist of items as associated with values corresponding to the barcode).Set of modules 26 will also determine an appearance of item 12 using itsimage. This typically includes consulting a library of images associatedwith item identities as explained in the above-incorporated patentapplication. In determining the identities, portable device 10 can beconfigured to communicate (wirelessly or otherwise) with data sourcesthat contain the necessary information/associations. For example,portable device 10 a can obtain/download the information over a wirelessnetwork from a source, or can be ported to kiosk or the like in thestore to download the information.

In any event, set of modules 26 will then compare the identity to theappearance to determine if they match. If so, Set of modules 26 adds theitem to the current inventory of items. If not, set of modules 26refuses such addition. In either event, a corresponding audible and/orvisual notification or the additional or denial can be provided to theuser/shopper. As an optional additional validation of item 12, an imagecapture device 18 optionally positioned on shopping receptacle 16 cancapture a second image of item 12 and/or scan its barcode. This imagecan be communicated to portable device 10, where set of modules 26 willreceive and compare it to the image captured by image capture device 11.If there is a difference (no match), the addition of item 12 to theinventory of items can be denied. If there is a match, however, the item12 can be added to the inventory of items. Corresponding audible and/orvisual notifications could also be provided. In addition, image capturedevice 18 could also scan barcode similar to image capture device 11. Insuch a case, the identity as determined based on the barcode scans andimage captured by image capture device 18 could be compared to thosedetermined base on the barcode and image captured by image capturedevice 11 (e.g., a four-way validation).

Regardless, if item 12 is later desired to be removed from the inventoryof items prior to checkout, the user/shopper will activate a subtractfunction on portable device and scan/image capture item 12 again. Oncecheckout is desired, the portable device will be linked (e.g.,wirelessly, ported, etc.) with a (self or manned) checkout station 20.This will cause inventory of items to be made known to checkout station20 for cashing out. As yet an additional check, shopping receptacle 16could be weighed on a scale 21 at checkout station 20 to see if itsexpected weight (based on the weight of shopping receptacle 16 plus theweight of items in the inventory of items) is consistent with the actualweight of the shopping receptacle 16. If a certain accuracy level is notmet, final checkout could be denied. In any event, payment for theinventory of items can be arranged using the portable device. That is,payment information that was provided at device registration could beleveraged to pay for the items. This can be done using portable device10 itself or the communication means existing at checkout station 20. Itcan also reduce the reliance on credit card readers, bill/coincollectors, and store personnel at checkout station 20.

B. Embodiment II

Referring now to FIG. 2, portable device-based shopping checkoutaccording to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.Primary functionality remains similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, butit will be repeated for clarity of understanding. Specifically, underthe embodiment of FIG. 2, portable device 10 is first configured forshopping checkout. In a typically embodiment, configuration will befostered by a provider 22 and generally includes: registering theportable device for shopping checkout (e.g., providing user/shoppercontact information, pin number/password for using portable device 10for shopping checkout, payment information and any pin number and/orpasswords, etc.); providing a unique identifier to the portable device;and providing software 24 for shopping checkout to the portable device.Software 24 includes a set of modules 26 that is configured to: receiveand process a scan of a barcode of an item; receive and process a firstimage of the item determine an identity of the item based on the scan;determine an appearance of the item based on the first image; anddetermine whether the identity is consistent with the appearance. Set ofmodules 26 can also be configured to receive and process a second imageof the item (e.g., as captured by an image capture device 18 positionedon the shopping receptacle 28; and compare the first image with thesecond image. Still yet, set of modules 26 can be configured to linkwith a checkout station; and arrange payment for the item.

Once portable device 10 is configured for shopping checkout, it can beused during the gathering of items to develop an inventory of items tobe purchases. For example, when an item 12 is desired to be purchased,an image capture device 11 associated therewith will scan a barcode 14of item, and capture an image of item 12. The scan and image will bereceived by set of modules 24 which will determine an identity of item12 using barcode 14 (e.g., using known methods of accessing a table orlist of items as associated with values corresponding to the barcode).Set of modules 26 will also determine an appearance of item 12 using itsimage. In determining/obtaining the identities and/or appearances,portable device 10 can be configured to communicate (wirelessly orotherwise) with data sources that contain the necessaryinformation/associations. For example, portable device 10 a canobtain/download the information over a wireless network from a source,or can be ported to kiosk or the like in the store to download theinformation.

In any event, set of modules 26 will then compare the identity to theappearance to determine if they are consistent. If so, set of modules 26adds the item to the current inventory of items. If not, set of modules26 refuses such addition. In either event, a corresponding audibleand/or visual notification or the additional or denial can be providedto the user/shopper. Regardless, if item 12 is later desired to beremoved from the inventory of items prior to checkout, the user/shopperwill activate a subtract function on portable device and scan/imagecapture item 12 again. Once checkout is desired, the portable devicewill be linked (e.g., wirelessly, ported, etc.) with a (self or manned)checkout station 30. This will cause inventory of items to be made knownto checkout station 30 for cashing out. As an additional check, shoppingreceptacle 28 could be weighed on a scale 32 at checkout station 30 tosee if its expected weight (based on the weight of shopping receptacle28 plus the weight of items in the inventory of items) is consistentwith the actual weight of the shopping receptacle 28. If a certainaccuracy level is not met, final checkout could be denied. In any event,payment for the inventory of items can be arranged using the portabledevice. That is, payment information that was provided at deviceregistration could be leveraged to pay for the items. This can be doneusing portable device 10 itself or the communication means existing atcheckout station 30. It can also reduce the reliance on credit cardreaders, bill/coin collectors, and store personnel at checkout station30.

In general, this embodiment does not show an image capture device onshopping receptacle 28 due to the portability of shopping receptacle 28.A similar tactic could be taken if shopping receptacle 28 is a shoppingbag. However, the image capture device 18 of FIG. 1 could be implementedon shopping receptacle 28 as so desired. In such an event, thefunctionality would be as stated in Section A above. Either way, set ofmodules 26 are typically configured to accommodate image capture device18 whether or not it is actually provided and/or used.

II. Computerized Implementation

Referring now to FIG. 3, a computerized implementation 100 of thepresent invention is shown. As depicted, implementation 100 includesportable device 10 deployed within a computer infrastructure 102. Thisis intended to demonstrate, among other things, that the presentinvention could be implemented within a network environment (e.g., theInternet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), avirtual private network (VPN), etc.), or on a stand-alone computersystem. In the case of the former, communication throughout the networkcan occur via any combination of various types of communications links.For example, the communication links can comprise addressableconnections that may utilize any combination of wired and/or wirelesstransmission methods. Where communications occur via the Internet,connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-basedprotocol, and an Internet service provider could be used to establishconnectivity to the Internet. Still yet, computer infrastructure 102 isintended to demonstrate that some or all of the components ofimplementation 100 could be deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by aservice provider who offers to implement, deploy, and/or perform thefunctions of the present invention for others.

As shown, portable device 10 includes a processing unit 106, a memory108, a bus 110, and device interfaces 112. Further, portable device 10is shown having image capture device 11 and storage system 116 thatcommunicate with bus via device interfaces (although image capturedevice 11 alternatively could directly communicate with bus 110). Ingeneral, processing unit 106 executes computer program code, such ascheckout software/program, which is stored in memory 108 and/or storagesystem 116. While executing computer program code, processing unit 106can read and/or write data to/from memory 108, storage system 116,and/or device interfaces 112. Bus 110 provides a communication linkbetween each of the components in portable device 10. Although notshown, portable device 10 could also include I/O interfaces thatcommunicate with: one or more external devices such as a kiosk, acheckout station, a keyboard, a pointing device, a display, etc.); oneor more devices that enable a user to interact with portable device 10;and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enableportable device 10 to communicate with one or more other computingdevices.

Computer infrastructure 102 is only illustrative of various types ofcomputer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, inone embodiment, computer infrastructure 102 comprises two or morecomputing devices (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over anetwork to perform the various process of the invention. Moreover,portable device 10 is only representative of various possible computersystems that can include numerous combinations of hardware. To thisextent, in other embodiments, portable device 10 can comprise anyspecific purpose computing article of manufacture comprising hardwareand/or computer program code for performing specific functions, anycomputing article of manufacture that comprises a combination ofspecific purpose and general purpose hardware/software, or the like. Ineach case, the program code and hardware can be created using standardprogramming and engineering techniques, respectively. Moreover,processing unit 106 may comprise a single processing unit, or bedistributed across one or more processing units in one or morelocations, e.g., on a client and server. Similarly, memory 108 and/orstorage system 116 can comprise any combination of various types of datastorage and/or transmission media that reside at one or more physicallocations. Further, device interfaces 112 can comprise any module forexchanging information with one or more external device 114. Stillfurther, it is understood that one or more additional components (e.g.,system software, math co-processing unit, etc.) not shown in FIG. 3 canbe included in portable device 10.

Storage system 116 can be any type of system capable of providingstorage for information under the present invention. To this extent,storage system 116 could include one or more storage devices, such as amagnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive. In another embodiment,storage system 116 includes data distributed across, for example, alocal area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or a storage areanetwork (SAN) (not shown). In addition, although not shown, additionalcomponents, such as cache memory, communication systems, systemsoftware, etc., may be incorporated into portable device 10.

Shown in memory 108 of portable device 10 is checkout program 24, whicha set of modules 26. The modules generally provide the functions of thepresent invention as described herein. Specifically (among otherthings), set of modules 120 is configured to: receive and process a scanof a barcode of an item; receive and process a first image of the item;determine an identity of the item based on the scan; determine anappearance of the item based on the first image; and determine whetherthe identity is consistent with the appearance. Set of modules 26 canalso be configured to: receive and process a second image of the item(e.g., as captured by an image capture device positioned on the shoppingreceptacle), and compare the first image with the second image. If thereis a difference (no match), the addition of item 12 to the inventory ofitems can be denied. If there is a match, however, the item 12 can beadded to the inventory of items. Set of modules 26 can also beconfigured to perform the four-way validation of barcode scans and imagecaptures by the image capture device 11 on portable device 10 and theimage capture device on the shopping receptacle.

If item 12 is later desired to be removed from the inventory of itemsprior to checkout, the user/shopper will activate a subtract function onportable device and scan/image capture item 12 again, at which point setof modules 26 will remove the item 12 from the inventory of items. Oncecheckout is desired, the portable device will be linked (e.g.,wirelessly, ported, etc.) with a (self or manned) checkout station. Thiswill cause inventory of items to be made known by set of modules 26 tothe checkout station for cashing out. As yet an additional check, theshopping receptacle could be weighed on a scale 21 at the checkoutstation to where set of modules 26 and/or checkout station software willdetermine if its expected weight (based on the weight of shoppingreceptacle 16 plus the weight of items in the inventory of items) isconsistent with the actual weight of the shopping receptacle 16. If acertain accuracy level is not met, final checkout could be denied. Inany event, payment for the inventory of items can be arranged via set ofmodules 26. That is, payment information that was provided at deviceregistration could be leveraged to pay for the items. This can be doneusing portable device 10 itself or the communication means existing atthe checkout station.

While shown and described herein as portable device-based shoppingcheckout, it is understood that the invention further provides variousalternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the inventionprovides a computer-readable/useable medium that includes computerprogram code to enable a computer infrastructure to provide portabledevice-based shopping checkout. To this extent, thecomputer-readable/useable medium includes program code that implementseach of the various process of the invention. It is understood that theterms computer-readable medium or computer useable medium comprises oneor more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code. Inparticular, the computer-readable/useable medium can comprise programcode embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture(e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or moredata storage portions of a computing device, such as memory 108 (FIG. 3)and/or storage system 116 (FIG. 3) (e.g., a fixed disk, a read-onlymemory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.), and/or as a datasignal (e.g., a propagated signal) traveling over a network (e.g.,during a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process of the invention on a subscription, advertising,and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a SolutionIntegrator, could offer to provide portable device-based shoppingcheckout and/or configuration of portable devices for shopping checkout.In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc.,a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure 102 (FIG. 3)that performs the process of the invention for one or more customers. Inreturn, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s)under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service providercan receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or morethird parties.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides acomputer-implemented method for portable device-based shopping checkout.In this case, a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure102 (FIG. 3), can be provided and one or more systems for performing theprocess of the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased,used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. Tothis extent, the deployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1)installing program code on a computing device, such as portable device10 (FIG. 3), from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or morecomputing devices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporatingand/or modifying one or more existing systems of the computerinfrastructure to enable the computer infrastructure to perform theprocess of the invention.

As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and“computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in anylanguage, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause acomputing device having an information processing capability to performa particular function either directly or after either or both of thefollowing: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or(b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, programcode can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program,component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basicdevice system/driver for a particular computing and/or device, and thelike.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode can be provided hereunder and can include at least one processorcommunicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to memory element(s)through a system bus. The memory elements can include, but are notlimited to, local memory employed during actual execution of the programcode, bulk storage, and cache memories that provide temporary storage ofat least some program code in order to reduce the number of times codemust be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output ordevice devices (including, but not limited to, keyboards, displays,pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly orthrough intervening device controllers.

Network adapters also may be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems,remote printers, storage devices, and/or the like, through anycombination of intervening private or public networks. Illustrativenetwork adapters include, but are not limited to, modems, cable modemsand Ethernet cards.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A method for portable device-based shopping checkout, comprising:receiving a scan of a barcode of an item with a portable device that isconfigured for shopping checkout; receiving an image of the itemcaptured with the portable device; determining whether an identity ofthe item as determined based on the scan of the barcode is consistentwith an appearance of the item as determined based on the image;receiving an additional image of the item captured with an image capturedevice couple to a shopping receptacle; determining whether the image ofthe item captured with the portable device is consistent with theadditional image of the item captured by an image capture device; andadding the item to an inventory of items if the identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with theidentity of the item as determined based on the image, and the image ofthe item captured with the portable device is consistent with theadditional image of the item captured by the image capture device. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the item to aninventory of items stored on the portable device if a match isestablished.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing theitem from the inventory of items using the portable device.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising linking the portable device with acheckout station for checking out the inventory of items.
 5. The methodof claim 4, further comprising obtaining payment for the inventory ofitems using the portable device.
 6. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising weighing the shopping receptacle in which the item is placedto validate a purchase of the item.
 7. The method of claim 6, theshopping receptacle being selected from a group consisting of a shoppingcart and a shopping basket.
 8. The method of claim 1, the image capturedevice being selected from a group consisting of a still image cameraand a video camera.
 9. The method of claim 1, the portable device beingselected from a group consisting of a wireless device and a wireddevice.
 10. The method of claim 9, the wireless device being selectedfrom a group consisting of a cellular telephone and a personal digitalassistant.
 11. The method of claim 1, the barcode being scanned and theimage being captured by the image capture device associated with theportable device.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprisingconfiguring the portable device for shopping checkout.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, the configuring comprising: registering the portable devicefor shopping checkout; providing a unique identifier for the portabledevice; and providing software for shopping checkout to the portabledevice.
 14. A method for configuring a portable device for shoppingcheckout, comprising: registering the portable device for shoppingcheckout; providing a unique identifier to the portable device; andproviding software for shopping checkout to the portable device, thesoftware being configured to: determine whether an identity of an itemas determined based on a scan of a barcode is consistent with anappearance of the item as determined based on an image received with theportable device; determine whether the image of the item captured withthe portable device is consistent with an additional image of the itemcaptured by an image capture device coupled to a shopping receptacle;and add the item to an inventory of items if the identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with theidentity of the item as determined based on the image, and the image ofthe item captured with the portable device is consistent with theadditional image of the item captured by the image capture device. 15.The method of claim 14, the software being further configured to:determine an identity of the item based on the scan; and determine anappearance of the item based on the first image.
 16. The method of claim15, the software being further configured to compare the first imagewith the second image.
 17. The method of claim 15, the software beingfurther configured to: link with a checkout station; and arrange paymentfor the item.
 18. The method of claim 17, the shopping receptacle beingselected from a group consisting of a shopping cart and a shoppingbasket.
 19. A system for portable device-based shopping checkout,comprising: a module for receiving a scan of a barcode of an item with aportable device that is configured for shopping checkout; a module forreceiving an image of the item captured with the portable device; amodule for determining whether an identity of the item as determinedbased on the scan of the barcode is consistent with an appearance of theitem as determined based on the image; a module for receiving anadditional image of the item with an image capture device coupled to ashopping receptacle; a module for determining whether the image of theitem captured with the portable device is consistent with the additionalimage of the item captured by the image capture device; and a module foradding the item to an inventory of items if the identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with theidentity of the item as determined based on the image, and the image ofthe item captured with the portable device is consistent with theadditional image of the item captured by the image capture device. 20.The system of claim 19, further comprising a module for adding the itemto an inventory of items stored on the portable device if a match isestablished.
 21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a module forremoving the item from the inventory of items using the portable device.22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a module for linking theportable device with a checkout station for checking out the inventoryof items.
 23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a module forobtaining payment for the inventory of items using the portable device.24. The system of claim 22, further comprising a module for processing aweight of the shopping receptacle in which the item is placed tovalidate a purchase of the item.
 25. The system of claim 24, theshopping receptacle being selected from a group consisting of a shoppingcart and a shopping basket.
 26. The system of claim 19, the imagecapture device being selected from a group consisting of a still imagecamera and a video camera.
 27. The system of claim 19, the portabledevice being selected from a group consisting of a wireless device and awired device.
 28. The system of claim 27, the wireless device beingselected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone and a personaldigital assistant.
 29. The system of claim 19, the barcode being scannedand the image being captured by the image capture device associated withthe portable device.
 30. The system of claim 19, further comprising amodule for configuring the portable device for shopping checkout. 31.The system of claim 30, the configuring comprising: a module forregistering the portable device for shopping checkout; a module forproviding a unique identifier for the portable device; and a module forproviding software for shopping checkout to the portable device.
 32. Aprogram product stored on a computer readable medium for portabledevice-based shopping checkout, the computer readable medium comprisingprogram code for causing a portable device to: receive a scan of abarcode of an item with the portable device, the portable device beingconfigured for shopping checkout; receive an image of the item capturedwith the portable device; determine whether an identity of the item asdetermined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with anappearance of the item as determined based on the image; receive anadditional image of the item captured with an image capture devicecoupled to a shopping receptacle; determine whether the image of theitem captured with the portable device is consistent with the additionalimage of the item captured by the image capture device; and add the itemto an inventory of items if the identity of the item as determined basedon the scan of the barcode is consistent with the identity of the itemas determined based on the image, and the image of the item capturedwith the portable device is consistent with the additional image of theitem captured by the image capture device.
 33. The program product ofclaim 32, the computer readable medium further comprising program codefor causing the portable device to add the item to an inventory of itemsstored on the portable device if a match is established.
 34. The programproduct of claim 33, the computer readable medium further comprisingprogram code for causing the portable device to remove the item from theinventory of items using the portable device.
 35. The program product ofclaim 33, the computer readable medium further comprising program codefor causing the portable device to link the portable device with acheckout station for checking out the inventory of items.
 36. Theprogram product of claim 35, the computer readable medium furthercomprising program code for causing the portable device to obtainpayment for the inventory of items using the portable device.
 37. Theprogram product of claim 32, the image capture device being selectedfrom a group consisting of a still image camera and a video camera. 38.The program product of claim 32, the portable device being selected froma group consisting of a wireless device and a wired device.
 39. Theprogram product of claim 38, the wireless device being selected from agroup consisting of a cellular telephone and a personal digitalassistant.
 40. The program product of claim 32, the barcode beingscanned and the image being captured by the image capture deviceassociated with the portable device.
 41. A method for deploying a systemfor portable device-based shopping checkout, comprising: enabling aportable device to: receive a scan of a barcode of an item with theportable device, the portable device being configured for shoppingcheckout; receive an image of the item captured with the portabledevice; determine whether an identity of the item as determined based onthe scan of the barcode is consistent with an appearance of the item asdetermined based on the image receive an additional image of the itemcaptured with an image capture device coupled to a shopping receptacle;determine whether the image of the item captured with the portabledevice is consistent with the additional image of the item captured bythe image capture device; and add the item to an inventory of items ifthe identity of the item as determined based on the scan of the barcodeis consistent with the identity of the item as determined based on theimage, and the image of the item captured with the portable device isconsistent with the additional image of the item captured by the imagecapture device.
 42. The method of claim 41, the shopping receptaclebeing selected from a group consisting of a shopping cart and a shoppingbasket.
 43. The method for deploying a system of claim 41, furthercomprising: registering the portable device for shopping checkout;providing a unique identifier to the portable device; and providingsoftware for shopping checkout to the portable device.
 44. The method ofclaim 43, the software being configured to: receive and process a scanof a barcode of an item; receive and process a first image of the itemdetermine an identity of the item based on the scan; determine anappearance of the item based on the first image; and determine whetherthe identity is consistent with the appearance.
 45. The method of claim44, the software being further configured to: receive an process asecond image of the item; and compare the first image with the secondimage.
 46. The method of claim 44, the software being further configuredto: link with a checkout station; and arrange payment for the item. 47.A system comprising: a computer system for portable device-basedshopping checkout by performing a method comprising: determining whetheran identity of an item as determined based on a scan of a barcode isconsistent with an appearance of the item as determined based on animage received with a portable device that is configured for shoppingcheckout; determining whether the image of the item captured with theportable device is consistent with an additional image of the itemcaptured by an image capture device coupled to a shopping receptacle;and adding the item to an inventory of items if the identity of the itemas determined based on the scan of the barcode is consistent with theidentity of the item as determined based on the image, and the image ofthe item captured with the portable device is consistent with theadditional image of the item captured by the image capture device. 48.The system of claim 47, the method further comprising: configuring theportable device for shopping checkout, the configuring comprising:registering the portable device for shopping checkout; providing aunique identifier for the portable device; and providing software forshopping checkout to the portable device.